About Mount Isa

The progressive city of Mount Isa is the most important industrial, commercial and administrative centre in Inland Queensland, Australia. Queensland is the second largest state or territory in Australia.

Situated 977 kilometres west of Townsville, Mount Isa is an important railhead; has an airport with facilities for jets and is a key road hub for the extensive system of highways linking Brisbane, Townsville, Alice Springs and Darwin.

Mount Isa began as a mining town, following the discovery in 1923 of substantial deposits of lead. It is now one of the worlds top ten producers of copper, silver, lead and zinc. Development has kept pace as prosperity increased. Apart from mining, the gulf regions major industry is beef cattle grazing. Beef roads, which service the northern Gulf properties, converge on Mount Isa which is also an important retail service centre for the surrounding pastoral towns and properties.

The city has grown to be a modern, well appointed centre of 23,000 people. It is a very cosmopolitan place, with 56 different national origins living and working together in harmony.

Surrounded by the rugged arid lands of the Inland, Mount Isa is an oasis of civilization with excellent amenities and facilities. The city lookout is the best vantage point to get the whole picture and the sunsets from the lookout are spectacular.

The Lead Stack - who built it? when ? and with what ?
A lot of people want to know information about the prominant smoke "stack" that dominates the city skyline. It was built by an international firm of engineers called Tileman. It commenced in January 1977 and finished in 1978. Find out more by following this link the lead stack.

The centre of a flourishing tourist industry, Mount Isa offers a full range of accommodation and ready access to gulf fishing and outback resorts. Local tour operators provide tours of the area including the Lawn Hill / Riversleigh world heritage sites.

Mount Isa and surrounds
There is plenty to explore in Mount Isa and its surrounding countryside. At the Kalkadoon Tribal Centre and Cultural Keeping Place, there are displays of artifacts of the fierce Kalkadoon fighting tribe indigenous to this area. Don't miss a visit to the School of the Air, the Heritage-listed Underground Hospital and tent house and the Royal Flying Doctor Service base.

Further a field, the Lawn Hill National Park is one of Queensland's largest and most remote national parks. Known for its open plains, stunted trees and secretive arid-zone wildlife, it is also home to the spectacular Lawn Hill Gorge which was formed by Lawn Hill Creek. The creek derives its continuous flow from numerous springs in the limestone plateau to the west and provides wonderful canoeing.

Want to explore the 'great outdoors' but don't have the equipment? Johnnos Campers can help. With Trailers to suit both on and off road vehicles, Johnno's will get you where you need to go.

Pungalina Station
Escape the crowds to this unique wilderness in the Northern Territory where there is only a maximum of 12 clients on Pungalina Station's magnificient property.

Pungalina will open for business after the Easter break and remain open until end October 2007 weather permitting. This year Pungalina escaped the cyclones and just had a healthy 600 mm over the wet season. Consequently the roads will be open soon for 4 WD access and of course the airstrip is ready and waiting for action.

Those interested in Limestone Caves will be pleased to know that more have been explored and opened during the latter part of last year and the Victorian Speleological Society will once again spend a few weeks this June mapping and opening more areas. More vehicles, canoes and fishing boats have been purchased and so many options are available for all ages and capabilities. For the keen fisherman who wants a barra they should be at Pungalina during April / May or Late August to October for the best results in the warmer water.

Bird watching is a specialty with now over 140 types sighted so far.... see the website www.pungalinasafaris.com.au.

Air tours operated by Kirkhope Aviation from Melbourne to Pungalina will operate as charters on demand. These are 7 day trips with 6 - 8 passengers that cross Australia visiting opal towns. cattle stations , Birdsville and the wet channel county with 3 - 4 days at Pungalina . Clients wishing to go on an air tour should make contact through the Pungalina website.